The cactus and the caterpillar

My daughter sent me an email titled The Cactus and the Caterpillar. It's the story of how a man asked for a beautiful flower and a butterfly, and instead was given a thorny cactus and an ugly caterpillar. Feeling disappointed he went on his way and kept living his life. Then, one day, he was passing the place where he had received these disappointing things. And, as I'm sure you can guess, on the thorny cactus was an incredibly beautiful flower, and the ugly caterpillar had turned into a gorgeous butterfly.

It's an amazing reminder that things don't always show up in the way we expect, nor do they always happen in the time frame we expect them. And in my life, lately, I've been frustrated by exactly that. It was a beautiful reminder that the way I view the gifts in my life is my choice; I can see a thorny cactus or I can see a miracle of nature, an amazing, hearty plant that can outlive me, that needs almost no water, and produces beautiful flowers. And it's a reminder to be patient.

I am grateful for these reminders, and today I choose to enjoy where I am right now.